Marathon Talk Episode 25: Wayne Larden - Sydney Marathon’s Race Director

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The AbbottWMM Wanda Age Group World Championships have never been hosted by a non-Major before, but that is all set to change in 2024, with the announcement that the Sydney Marathon will host the next edition of the championship race.

As the budding race continues its mission to become a fully-fledged member of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, we hear from Sydney Marathon Race Director Wayne Larden on what it’s like to be Race Director of a course with such potential, what visitors can expect when they come Down Under in 2024 and how preparation is going for the 2023 edition of the race, which is set to happen this weekend.

Elsewhere, we take a deep dive into Berlin’s stellar lineups, a curious Mexico City race with thousands of DQs, and why housework is as dangerous as any high intensity sport…

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In this episode of Marathon Talk

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0:00 - Martin & Deena return to cover a surprise visit to the emergency room, a thrilling road bike race, and suffering defeat to children

9:50 - Rounding up the marathon world’s top stories, from a Mexico City marathon fraught with DQs, to the anticipation building for the Majors this month

21:10 - Sydney Marathon’s Race Director, Wayne Larden, shares the race’s fascinating journey to hosting the Age Group World Championships, and its hopes to become an Abbott World Marathon Major

Episode keywords

Marathon talk, abbott world marathon majors, marathon running, distance running, endurance marathon, marathon training, endurance training, london marathon, berlin marathon, boston marathon, chicago marathon, six star finisher, sydney marathon, sydney age group world championships, sydney marathon race director,

Episode highlights
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“This was a nine year old ahead of me, so I thought I’d see if I can at least catch the child up. When I did, I then felt a pang of guilt about pushing past and taking a child to the cleaners in the last kilometer.” - 1:20 - Martin Yelling ‍

“Mexico is on the list of qualifying races for the AbbottWMM Wanda Age Group World Rankings. So the results team is sure to put in a little extra time to make sure that these are clean results before they submit their results into the system.” - 11:45 - Deena Kastor

“The Majors are all unbelievably good at engaging their entire communities to come out and cheer on the participants. That day is marathon day in that country - the whole country stops.” - 27:20 - Wayne Larden

“I've been amazed by the level of engagement nationally, who all sense, and who all are excited about the prospect of Australia having an Abbott World Marathon Major, because they know how great they are.” - 36:40 - Wayne Larden

“I'm gearing up for my race in the dark round Corfe Castle, which doesn't take place until November, so I might even go and scout it out. I don't know the route, but it’s 16k in the dark.” - 48:00 - Martin Yelling